The good: Network-ready; auto duplexer; large LCD; control panel is easy to use and menus are well-thought-out; memory card slots and PictBridge port.

The bad: Task speeds are slower than the last generation’s; print/scan quality is not up to Canon’s usual standards and needs improvement across the board; USB port doesn’t support hard drives or flash drives.

The bottom line: The Canon Pixma MP970 isn’t up to the company’s usually high standards. You’re better off spending more for last year’s version.